Pelican - What We All Come to Need
Rating
RIYL
Russian CirclesRed Sparowes
Isis
Release Date
10/26/2009
Label
Southern LordTracklist
1.Glimmer2.The Creeper
3.Ephemeral
4.Specks of Light
5.Strung Up from the Sky
6.An Inch Above Sand
7.What We All Come to Need
8.Final Breath
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It has taken me a while to truly sit down and write this review. Chalk it up to denial. I am a huge fan of Pelican; I have listened to them from their early demo recordings up to today. Sadly their last CD, City of Echoes, seemed like a step backwards in terms of scope. The album suffered greatly at the hands of their drummer. Off tempo and weak fills led to a very unsatisfying taste in my mouth. Though I am a guitar head myself, keeping time and fluidity is a must have when playing. I still purchased the album and it shows up from time to time on long drives, but it doesn’t compare to earlier stuff. Imagine my excitement when the band said What We All Come to Need was to be heavier and similar to their older material. Little did I know that this CD would be a little too similar to those old roots.
This album takes a step in the right direction towards drawing influences from the heavier side of their catalog. Gone are the more up beat riffs of City of Echoes, being replaced with riffs somewhere between Australasia and The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw. There are still the moments of inventive guitar work and creative bass lines to keep the avid fan pleased, but you'll certainly get the feeling you've heard this before.
With Pelican you have to invest yourself in the song. You cannot just listen to two minutes of the song and be done. The shifting of momentum and overall aesthetic has to be taken in during one sitting. I guess the reason I sat on the record for so long was that I was waiting to see how the songs would sound live. Would the songs come across as well in a live environment? The answer is yes, the songs performed live are amazing. The songs are amazing live because of the chemistry that the band possesses. The main problem is this chemistry is not being carried over to their recorded material. Both of the guitarists know how to create emotion without words, that is a given, however if this emotion is tired and expected where is the room for growth? Maybe Pelican have simply become stagnant?
During the course of the week driving home from work this CD has found its way onto my stereo a few times. It keeps me interested and head bobbing throughout the drive, but when I have reached my destination its stays in the car. The music doesn’t follow me and that is the point where I feel left down. The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw followed me around for days, popping up in various incantations. The longevity of a CD is in the ability to travel with you to different locations. As bad as I want to love this album, it just isn’t happening. I’ll listen to it and be content, but as far as ranking among the great post rock albums, it is but another chapter that will go left unnoticed in the long run.
--Corey Mack
Comments
Lehigh Valley, PA
City of Echoes was a beautiful album in my opinion. Definitely not a step backwards. This is a decent album, took me a bit to get into it but I love the shit out of it now. I also disagree with the statement that Pelican has become stagnant...
Los Angeles
I still listen to both City of Echoes and this one pretty often, but I just don't think they are anything to write home about. I say this I am sitting in a Pelican tshirt haha.
Minnesota
City of Echoes was a definite step backwards. You're crazy if you think otherwise, Bill! As for this one, it shows the band getting back on track, but doesn't live up to their early releases. So I'm pretty much with you on this one, Corey.
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Baton Rouge
I really liked the variation in City of Echoes (enough to buy the vinyl), but this one makes me so sleepy!
Boobs
http://thenicsperiment.blogspot.com/